Feature Film Highlights the Plight of Migrants in South Africa

Feature Film Highlights the Plight of Migrants in South Africa

GENEVA, Switzerland, September 9, 2011/African Press Organization (APO)/ — The IOM office in South Africa is backing the production of a feature film which seeks to explore the complex themes of migration, xenophobia, identity, fear and reconciliation.

The movie titled “Man on Ground” is centred on Ade, a successful Nigerian banker based in the UK and Femi, his estranged brother who lives and works in South Africa.

Ade soon discovers that his brother has been missing for a week. He sets out to investigate Femi’s mysterious disappearance, reconstructing the pieces of his everyday life and the cruel hardships he endured just to survive.

“Although the film is set in South Africa, it reflects the day-to-day challenges migrants have to face in all parts of the world,” says Erick Ventura, IOM’s a.i Chief of Mission in South Africa. “We hope that viewers will empathize with the plight of migrants in search of a better life abroad.”

Man on Ground by Akin Omotoso has been selected to have its world premiere at the prestigious Toronto International Film Festival, which opened yesterday in the provincial capital of Ontario and Canada’s largest city.

“The Man on Ground production team is very proud to be associated with IOM in our joint efforts to bridge the gap between migrants and host communities,” says Akin Omotoso. “This film aims to foster a dialogue for people to understand that there is no “them” and “us” and that we are one and the same”

The film has been produced mostly through crowd funding from individuals, companies and organizations, amongst them, 1Take Media, Rosie Motene Productions, ChrisDon Productions, and Hashayafric Productions in association with The National Film and Video Foundation of South Africa.

IOM’s support was made possible through funding from the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (Sida) and the Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs.